Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

The majority of ion channels fall into two broad categories: voltage-gated ion channels (VGIC) and ligand-gated ion channels (LGIC). Members of the VGIC superfamily are usually closed at the resting potential of the cell. A change in the membrane potential causes conformational changes that result in the opening of the pore (voltage-dependent activation), which may be followed by a transitional conformational change (inactivation) to an inactivated state.¹ The VGIC superfamily includes calcium channels, chloride channels, potassium channels and sodium channels. Other, smaller categories exist, such as the vanilloid (TRP) receptors, the ATP-gated channels, the cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNG) and aquaporins (water channels).

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Aquaporin (Water)
     Antibodies to Water Channels

Calcium
     Antibodies to Calcium Channels
     Calcium Channel Modulators

Chloride
     Antibodies to Chloride Channels
     Chloride Channel Modulators

Potassium
     Antibodies to Potassium Channels
     Potassium Channel Modulators

Sodium
     Antibodies to Sodium Channels
     Sodium Channel Modulators

Other Ion Channels
     Antibodies to Other Ion Channels

Ion Exchangers and Co-Transporters
     Ion Probes
     Ionophores
     Antibodies to Ion Pumps
     Ion Pump Inhibitors

Reference

1. Ashcroft, F. M., Ed. Ion Channels and Disease; Academic Press: San Diego, CA, 2000.

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